Brief: UCLA Health ranked fifth in the country

The UCLA Health System in Santa Monica and Westwood was ranked fifth among hospitals in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. The system was also ranked the best in California and in Los Angeles, according to the report released Tuesday.

UCLA Health was one of about 4,800 hospitals across the country to be considered for the rankings. It placed among the top 20 hospitals for 13 of 16 medical specialties such as neurosurgery, cardiology and heart surgery and orthopedics.

Hospitals were ranked based on four indicators ‚Äî largely their reputation among medical experts and how successful the hospital was in keeping patients healthy. Hospitals were also ranked for their efforts to improve patient safety and other factors, including nurse staffing, patient volume and technology.